IRELAND
Irish Central

by Patrick Roberts

Pope Francis missed a remarkable opportunity to establish his popularity with the Irish faithful by refusing a red hat to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Francis announced 19 new cardinals, but Martin was not among them.

Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, was one of the candidates who was in line for a promotion according to the National Catholic Reporter. Ireland matches one of the key criteria as it will have no cardinal-elector for a future pope after Cardinal Sean Brady retires this year.

The other cardinal is the elderly Desmond Connell, retired Archbishop of Dublin.

Martin’s nomination would also have fulfilled a profound desire among the laity to have his remarkable work on child abuse and removing abusive priests recognized.

There were many times when Martin seemed alone in forcing the issue and making the church stand up and confess the many abuses they covered up,…